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Long Island Sound Dynamic River Basin Export Reduction Optimization Support Tool (RBEROST) and User Guide
Citation:
Detenbeck, N., C. Connolly, A. Le, C. Guider, S. Ennett, K. Moffa, H. Parker, AND S. Kovach. Long Island Sound Dynamic River Basin Export Reduction Optimization Support Tool (RBEROST) and User Guide. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, 2026.
Impact/Purpose:
This product supports EPA Pillars 1 (Clean Water) and 3 (Enhancing state-federal collaboration). US EPA had previously developed the River Basin Export Reduction Optimization System (RBEROST) as a decision support tool for the Upper Connecticut River Basin, using outputs from the USGS SPARROW model for the Northeast to provide estimates of nutrient loads from individual NHDPlus v2 catchments to a downstream waterbody (USEPA/RBEROST: Meet numerous loading targets in the watershed for the lowest financial cost). RBEROST finds the most cost-effective suite of management practices to meet downstream loading targets for nitrogen and phosphorus, considering wastewater treatment and/or septic treatment upgrades, septic to sewer conversions, stormwater best management practices, agricultural conservation practices, and riparian management. The dynamic version of RBEROST, which relies on inputs from the USGS dynamic SPARROW model for the Long Island Sound Basin (4 seasons x 20 years) should be invaluable in supporting goals encompassed in the new Long Island Sound Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) for 2025-2035, including: Improve water quality and watershed health: Focus on reducing nutrient and contaminant runoff to enhance the overall health of the Sound's water bodies.
Description:
US EPA had previously developed the River Basin Export Reduction Optimization System (RBEROST) as a decision support tool for the Upper Connecticut River Basin, using outputs from the USGS SPARROW model for the Northeast to provide estimates of nutrient loads from individual NHDPlus v2 catchments to a downstream waterbody (USEPA/RBEROST: Meet numerous loading targets in the watershed for the lowest financial cost). RBEROST finds the most cost-effective suite of management practices to meet downstream loading targets for nitrogen and phosphorus, considering wastewater treatment and/or septic treatment upgrades, septic to sewer conversions, stormwater best management practices, agricultural conservation practices, and riparian management. EPA is now releasing a dynamic version of RBEROST covering the larger Long Island Sound Basin which includes inputs from the newly developed dynamic SPARROW model for the northern watersheds of the Long Island Sound Basin by season and year over the period 2001-2024. The dynamic version can be used to examine differences in cost-effectiveness of various management practices between wet and dry years and to evaluate potential lags in effects of management practices due to storage of nutrients in the system.
URLs/Downloads:
LONG ISLAND SOUND DYNAMIC RIVER BASIN EXPORT REDUCTION OPTIMIZATION SUPPORT TOOL (RBEROST) USER GUIDE.PDF (PDF, NA pp, 7316.982 KB, about PDF)RBEROST Support Tool
